Strategy game? Then I'll have to control you properly.

[Rewards Available]

Ultimately, all that's left is the choice you make for yourself.

Such reward options given after achieving specific accomplishments must be treated with caution.

Because it is a means to transcend the residents on the screen and help Lin Miao in reality.

[I am Li Sushang from Longxin Group. Even if you don't come to the company, you can still get help from me through the forum.]

Before making a choice, Lin Miao entered the user forum provided by the system.

This place, which was originally used only by Lin Miao and Li Sushang, has started to attract other users as the number of users has increased.

Although most people go directly to Li Sushang's company, it's not very active there.

But she still carefully maintains this space for those who want to hide their identities.

"Are you busy?" Lin Miao asked in a message from his private room with Li Sushang.

[Li Sushang: Anyway, I'm always glued to the computer.]

Lin Miao contacted her for no particular reason.

I was simply curious what reward she would choose.

As long as you don't choose special items, you can choose one of the traits held by the residents to obtain.

There are currently no props that particularly attract Lin Miao.

The powerful effects of his special ability are evident from the martial arts special ability he is currently practicing.

[Li Sushang: I initially chose the magic trait, using the reward I received last time to select the fire magic trait.]

"Is everything related to combat? Are you planning to fight?" Lin Miao asked.

[Li Sushang: Just like last time... just in case.]

Actually, asking Li Sushang was to help me make up my mind.

Lin Miao herself felt that this excuse was very clumsy.

But there's nothing we can do; after all, he wasn't born a hero.

"A paladin, huh?" After chatting with Li Sushang, Lin Miao couldn't help but chuckle as he examined Lillie's traits.

Even on the screen, there are beings who can hold back an ordinary person like him.

She was once just an ordinary and naive female warrior, but unknowingly she has grown to the point where she can evolve her special martial arts into that of a paladin.

Lillie stayed with Lin Miao, and Lin Miao stayed with her in return.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that Lin Miao, who watches over her from outside the game, understands her better than Lillie does.

[Reward Selection: Trait - Paladin]

In the game, Lin Miao is the god she worships and follows.

But in reality, Lin Miao longs to be like her.

◆◆◆

"Are you really alright?" Attila asked Lillie with concern.

"As long as you don't exhaust your stamina, you can recover quickly. This is an ability that maximizes regeneration by consuming magic power," Lillie replied, shaking her head.

Anyone who saw that long wound would feel pain, but Lillie shook her head and said it was nothing.

Indeed, the wound healed instantly after emitting a faint golden glow.

This is a miracle that cannot be achieved solely through in-game items.

It was her devout faith that fully awakened divine power, which was the price she paid to become a true paladin.

"Just because the wound has healed doesn't mean it wasn't serious. It must have hurt a lot every time you were cut and bled," Attila said with concern.

"I can endure this level of pain," Lillie said firmly.

As a knight who follows God, she regards enduring pain as a noble sacrifice.

"According to the intelligence we've obtained, Luke is regrouping his troops. He probably doesn't want to let us go and is preparing to drive us away," a soldier reported.

"Do you intend to accept the challenge?" Lillie asked Attila.

"No, we have achieved all our objectives. As long as we bring the residents of this region back to their villages, he will not dare to make any rash moves, having lost his loyal followers and a large number of soldiers," Attila said, shaking his head.

Having achieved all his objectives, Attila had no intention of fighting Luke again.

After all, he was certain that Luke would not launch a preemptive attack on Zhen Dan's base.

Whether Luke takes the initiative to propose peace talks like Theodore did in the past, or spends time resting and regrouping his troops, it will only benefit China.

"The only thing that concerns me is what the mage said. The Southern Kingdom, which is cooperating with Luke, might interfere. Or perhaps the Empire is really plotting something in secret," Attila said, frowning.

"What if they attack?" Lillie asked.

"No matter who our opponent is, we have only one mission: to follow the will of our guardian deity," Attila said in a deep voice.

While we will try to avoid fighting, we will never back down if the time comes.

The sacred duty they uphold must never be abandoned.

When Lillie heard Attila say that they now had to be wary of even people outside the grasslands, she couldn't help but sigh softly.

When they were still small tribes, they only needed to focus on their surroundings.

But as its influence expanded and its affairs increased, more and more people became involved.

If you don't feel worried about the possibility of going to war with guys you've never taken seriously, then you're simply arrogant.

"Lillie, you go back to the village first. Anyway, the cleanup work is almost over, and everyone will be going back soon," Attila said.

"Father, are you alright on your own?" Lillie asked worriedly.

"This place is certainly important, but the village cannot be ignored either. A large number of immigrants are pouring in there, and you can imagine the level of chaos. We must take precautions before those black monsters that take advantage of the chaos appear," Attila explained.

Attila sent Lillie, who was worried about him, back to the village first.

Based on the situation, this allocation of manpower is the most efficient.

The villages, especially those that had received a large influx of immigrants, were in complete chaos.

Sending a respected and capable person to oversee the situation is the only way to prevent a major disaster from happening.

"It seems... those guys have caught a whiff of new residents in the village." Attila's prediction was spot on.

The Zerg swarm, which had been relatively well-behaved under the control of Luke's expeditionary force, suddenly began to stir.

"What does this mean? Those guys have actually gathered together?" a soldier asked in a panic.

"As before, our reconnaissance units have discovered multiple insect hives operating in concert!" another soldier reported.

Northern Fortress.

The place, accessible through a portal that appears after changing the screen, is once again shrouded in the clouds of war.

Of course, sporadic attacks by the insect swarms occur here almost daily.

But this time the situation is different.

The insect hives decided to unite and form a massive army, vowing to completely eradicate the enemies that stood in their way.

"Immediately inform the village of this news and prepare for defense." Mista immediately devoted himself to preparing for battle.

The basic tactic for fighting against a legion of insect swarms composed of ants and their variants is to defend first and then counterattack.

The plan is to use defensive towers to block the incoming enemy forces, and then strike at their heart when their stronghold is undefended.

The timing isn't too bad; if they can get reinforcements from the newly arrived immigrants, they can at least double their number of soldiers.

"Hurry! We must defend it at all costs!" Mista shouted.

Upon receiving instructions from Mista, the fortress garrison quickly deployed defensive fortifications.

Although not as tall as the village walls, the city walls are still intact and sturdy enough.

The surrounding defensive towers also have solid foundations and powerful firepower due to the heavy investment.

In this situation, some people can only frantically try to handle things.

The captured mages were just like that.

"It looks like those monsters are about to launch a major attack. I... I heard that thousands of monsters invaded before this fortress was even built!" a mage exclaimed in horror.

"Don't panic, hold the line first. Those monsters aren't picky eaters. No matter where you come from or what your status is, you're all just equal prey to them, so we must fight side by side," Paul said, frowning.

Paul frowned upon hearing his subordinate's terrified words.

He appeared remarkably calm compared to the others who were trembling with fear.

"The guardian deity took my magical artifacts, but also gave me a corresponding price. If I continue to make contributions like this, maybe I can even reach that god," Paul thought to himself.

Paul was able to remain so calm because of a golden jewel he had recently acquired.

Although he watched helplessly as Lin Miao took away his magical tools for collecting experience essence and dimensional gate materials.

However, the orb obtained as compensation contains a mysterious power that even magicians cannot explain.

"Unlike the gods I know, He seems genuinely willing to embrace everyone," Paul thought to himself.

China is not composed of only humans.

The dwarven survivors who escaped from the monsters that destroyed their homeland also joined Sauron.

Surprisingly, the guardian deity of Cinta also gladly bestowed protection upon the dwarves.

The guardian deity rewarded even Paul, who was captured, without prejudice, an act that shook Paul's resolve.

I couldn't help but become interested in the object to which Aurora was so loyal.

"Since we can get back alive, there's nothing to worry about. We... wait a minute?" Paul, who was encouraging his men to get back alive, noticed someone at that moment.

The boy who had just arrived at the scene on horseback.

Although any young boy who could ride a horse could join the army, Paul was surprised for other reasons.

"The magician over there!" Paul cried out.

"?" Bruno turned his head in confusion.

Although Bruno did not know Paul and other magicians, Paul had personally witnessed the mysterious magician who had used overwhelming magic to repel the expeditionary force in the last battle.

"W-what? Who is it?" Bruno, riding on horseback and holding a magic wand, shuddered when he saw a foreigner who looked completely different from him rushing over in a panic.

At least from Paul's attire, one could deduce that he was a magician similar to himself.

"These guys are foreign mages who have defected to Luke. They're from the Southern Kingdom," a soldier standing next to Bruno revealed with a sneer.

Soldiers who lost their comrades in the last battle were naturally not in a good mood.

"What's going on?" Bruno asked cautiously.

Although he knew he had the upper hand at the moment, the fact that his opponent was also a mage made him feel inexplicably uneasy.

The fact that the magic he possessed was not acquired through academic study, but rather closer to a skill, something akin to intuition, made him even more uneasy.

"During the last battle... I witnessed a magnificent high-level magic. Pure magic, like a giant hammer falling from the sky, completely different from those indescribable sorceries. Was it you who cast it?" Paul asked cautiously.

Knowing each other's identities, Paul also remained cautious.

But those eyes were sparkling.

Orthodox magicians, including Paul, are essentially academics.

Only those who have a genuine passion for magic and who dedicate themselves to its study or practice diligently can elevate their level.

Even when these carefully selected elites are taken prisoner, their thirst for knowledge remains unquenched.

"These bastards dare to..." A soldier grinned, trying to drive away Paul and the other magicians.

"No need, it doesn't matter," Bruno stopped the soldier.

This was not a well-thought-out decision, but rather a decision made on impulse.

"Why?" Even Bruno himself was confused by this sudden emotion.

The only certainty was that the magician Paul, who appeared to be thirty years older than him, possessed a sincerity toward magic that touched the hearts of fellow spellcasters.

Even enemies who were fighting not long ago will be treated as brothers once they admit defeat; this is the custom of the grasslands.

"Please, please!" Paul suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud.

The other mages also hurriedly knelt down.

But Paul didn't care at all.

"Please, impart some of your vast knowledge to us! How can we cast such powerful spells?" Paul pleaded earnestly.

"Is this thing really that powerful?" Bruno scratched his head in confusion in response to Paul's earnest exclamation.

Unlike other forms of magic, although learning great magic was somewhat difficult, it was ultimately not impossible to master.

"No, that..." Paul and the other magicians were stunned by Bruno's reaction that "this is quite normal."

This means he was unaware of just how amazing the magic he was using was.

As a result, Paul could only gesticulate wildly as he explained to Bruno just how powerful his magic was.

"I understand what you mean, but there's not much I can do to help. It was the guardian deity who recommended the grimoire to me," Bruno said.

"Ah, I knew it." Paul suddenly realized.

The guardian deity is the true god who is involved in all areas of China.

Paul closed his eyes tightly after hearing Bruno's answer.

Without the protection of a guardian deity, the existence of this village and fortress would be inexplicable.

The food, clothes, houses, weapons, and even magic and skills of the people of Zhen Dan are all from Zhen Dan.

These civilizations and cultural origins, which can be called miracles of the border steppes, were not the work of foreign spies who secretly traveled around like them.

Rather, it was bestowed upon them by a being known as a guardian deity.

"His true nature is unknown, and he is an existence that descends to the world in various forms." Paul had also heard the people of Saturn tell stories of guardian deities.

Although the "God" that Paul knew of did not exist, there were indeed miracles that helped the residents directly or indirectly in other ways.

"I really want to know more." A desire naturally welled up in his heart.

Wanting to explore that which is fundamentally incomprehensible is perhaps the natural thought of a magician.

"But it's not entirely hopeless, is it?" Bruno chuckled as he looked at Paul's gloomy expression.

When Bruno himself said that there was still a chance, the magicians were surprised and stirred.

"That lord only cares about one thing: whether one can truly fulfill their mission. Our tribe was formed by the merger of tribes that had fought each other. But that lord never discriminates over tribe or origin when it comes to warriors who are dedicated to their duties, and bestows favors upon them all," Bruno explained.

"The mission, could it be...?" Paul asked.

"That's right, fighting the black monster." Bruno nodded casually.

As mentioned, Lin Miao's top priority was to stop the insect swarm.

Although he had feelings for the residents, it was regrettable that it was impossible to stop the swarms while taking care of all their needs.

Therefore, he did not discriminate based on background or status, and appointed talents as efficiently as possible.

This did not cause any problems.

Because his will is the law of China.

"There is still a chance, as long as we complete our mission and make contributions." Hope ignited in Paul's heart.

The war drums sounded.

At this moment, the enemy armies that were eyeing the world with predatory intent were approaching this most obstructive target.

Paul was convinced that as long as they could prove themselves in this crisis, even if they became prisoners or captives, God would surely recognize them.

"Hmph, he seems to be taking this a bit more seriously, but there's no need to tell me specifically," a soldier muttered as he watched Paul and the mages return to their posts.

"But being forced to fight and fighting voluntarily are two different things." Bruno's lips curled up slightly.

Thinking about it carefully, everything I just said was based on my own experience.

"What is the size of the enemy? And what about their support?" Mista asked.

"We've already confirmed over 10,000 enemies, and that number could double if we include the unconfirmed ones... Over 90% of them are small, but there are also quite a few large ones. Support troops are still arriving one after another," a soldier reported.

"A half-hearted victory is no match for the lair. And the High Chieftain can't arrive immediately. So we must rely on ourselves to get through this crisis." Mista, now in command, suddenly took charge of a massive army unlike any he had ever seen before.

Thanks to the continuous influx of immigrants and the constant arrival of reinforcements, the fortress's strength has exceeded 5000.

For Mista, who had just joined Attila's forces after taking over a small tribe of a few dozen people, this number made his fingers tremble.

"Deploy the veterans on the flanks, and I will personally lead the new recruits to defend the central area," Mista ordered.

But fear and hesitation are not allowed; it is a mission, something they, who have been blessed, must accomplish.

A holy war, literally, to protect the holy land and follow the gods.

"The enemy continues to close in."

"The city wall is now complete; they can only climb it from here."

The Zerg are not the only ones who have evolved through continuous combat; they have also gradually mastered the Zerg's habits and methods to counter them.

The five-section city wall was already completed, rendering the Zerg's group tactics meaningless in front of it.

"Come on." Fully armed Mista, holding a long spear, stood atop the wall with his companions.

Bruno and Paul are nearby.

The men gripped their weapons tightly, their expressions resolute as they awaited the enemy.

"A war unknown to anyone... is about to begin." Paul gripped his staff tightly, his face pale, thinking of the people left behind in the Southern Kingdom.

Those people who are completely unaware of what is happening on the distant northeastern border and continue to live their peaceful daily lives.

It is precisely because I was once one of them that I find it all the more unbelievable now.